Critical Transformations of Social Psychology - SOC00063I
Module summary
The aim of this module is to introduce you to the range of critiques, and to explore the diverse theoretical and methodological influences that have informed them. The module explores ways to critically transform social psychology to make it more fundamentally social in approach.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
How can sociological approaches challenge traditional social psychology and the dominant methodology of experimentation in the laboratory? In the past three decades, there has emerged within social psychology a growing set of critiques of the experimental method and its cognitivist focus. The aim of this module is to introduce you to the range of critiques, and to explore the diverse theoretical and methodological influences that have informed them. We focus on a range of new social psychology approaches drawing on different critical theories concerned with forms of social inequalities. The module explores ways to critically transform social psychology to make it more fundamentally social in approach.
Module learning outcomes
Describe and evaluate the range of critical arguments that show the limitations of cognitive and experimental social psychology.
Articulate the different theoretical and methodological positions that inform and underpin critical arguments against cognitive and experimental social psychology
Critically reflect on the challenges and possibilities of different ways of doing social psychology
Convey different critical approaches in social psychology effectively in written formats
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
For formative work - Short Written Assessment - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. Both formative assessments provide practice for the summative tasks, which entail an observational exercise and are in line with MLO 1-4.
For summative work - Essay- students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with MLO 1-4. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well, and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.
Indicative reading
Franzoi, S.L. (2009) Social psychology. London: McGraw-Hill.
Goffman, E. (1969). The presentation of self in everyday life. London: Allen Lane Hewitt, J.P. (2010) Self and society: A symbolic interactionist social psychology. London: Pearson.
Hollway, W., Lucey, H., & Phoenix, A. (2007) Social Psychology Matters. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Rohall, D.E. Milkie, M.A., and Lucas, J.W. (2011) Social psychology: Sociological perspectives. London: Pearson.